A new economic system that would dominate economic relations between Europe and the Americas developed during the sixteenth century. Which statement correctly states how this economic system affected British colonization in the Americas?
A
.
Mercantilism motivated the British to found colonies to create better trade relationships with other countries.
B.
Free enterprise motivated the British to found colonies to create more competition for their domestic businesses.
C.
Mercantilism motivated the British to found colonies to acquire raw materials for manufactured goods.
D.
Free enterprise motivated the British to found colonies to provide better opportunities for their entrepreneurs.
C.
Mercantilism motivated the British to found colonies to acquire raw materials for manufactured goods.
C. Mercantilism motivated the British to found colonies to acquire raw materials for manufactured goods.
To determine the correct statement about how the new economic system affected British colonization in the Americas, we need to analyze each option and evaluate its accuracy.
A. Mercantilism motivated the British to found colonies to create better trade relationships with other countries.
Mercantilism was an economic theory during the sixteenth century that aimed to increase a nation's wealth through trade and accumulating precious metals. While this statement is partially true in terms of the motivation behind mercantilism, it does not directly address how it affected British colonization in the Americas.
B. Free enterprise motivated the British to found colonies to create more competition for their domestic businesses.
While free enterprise is a concept associated with capitalism, it is not the primary factor motivating British colonization in the Americas. Additionally, the statement does not explain how it affected British colonization.
C. Mercantilism motivated the British to found colonies to acquire raw materials for manufactured goods.
This statement accurately reflects the impact of the new economic system on British colonization in the Americas. Under mercantilism, countries sought to acquire colonies to secure access to valuable raw materials and establish a trade network to benefit their home industries. British colonies in the Americas provided essential resources like tobacco, sugar, and timber for manufacturing goods back in Britain.
D. Free enterprise motivated the British to found colonies to provide better opportunities for their entrepreneurs.
While entrepreneurship may have played a role in British colonization, it was not the primary motivation. This statement does not address the impact of the new economic system or explain how it affected British colonization.
Based on the analysis, the correct statement is:
C. Mercantilism motivated the British to found colonies to acquire raw materials for manufactured goods.